Back on topic here. What's amazing to me is that we are talking about V6 engines producing 300bhp! How crazy would that have been just 20 years ago? Engine tech certainly has progressed as manufacturers are able to produce rockin engines that sip less fuel. 300bhp used to be reserved for the V8s. Crazy times these are!

I am still not clear on what MB did to the engine to increase the power. Aside for the high-rev, what else was done? Or is this a totally different engine block?

While the hp figure looks good (and probably necessary for marketing purpose), it would be nice if the torque figure can be on par as well. Man! I miss the good old MB multi-valve inline-6.

Anybody here remember a certain mercedes benz v8 producing 302hp not too long ago? maybe 3 0r 4 years?

Yep of course.

M

I'd sure like to see what is behind this as well. How can you increase power and fuel mileage. The fuel mileage has been dissapointing in the newer MB engines. The old 3valve 3.2 litre V6 used to get 29-30 mpg in the E. The new 350 is lucky to get 25 mpg. The 300 which has less power doesn't get any better mileage. What gives. These engines/ trannies grab when you take your foot off the gas. I think this really hurts mileage. Why does MB do this?

I'm sure we'll get a huge press release on the SLK and the new V6 anytime now. One source says it has direct injection, others don't mention it...including the official press release given so far. Car and Driver usually knows what they're talking about though.

M

From the press release.

This result was achieved by raising the engine speed limit to 6800 rpm; it can even be increased to 7200 rpm for a brief period – oil temperature and other engine parameters permitting. Other changes introduced include a higher compression ratio, a new intake manifold and an extensively modified valve train.

Why 7200 rpm only for brief periods under permitting conditions? 7200 is not that high for a modern NA gas engine.

And does the engine make the 305HP under normal conditions or during those brief forays into 7200 rpm?

A very weak response to the to BMWs 3.0TT engine if this indeed is the response to it.

the engine now develops 224 kW/305 hp at 6500 rpm
Perhaps we should read the begining of the thread before we post.

Revving to 7200rpm can help out a lot when changing to the next gear, and how exactly do you know this is a "very weak response" when the engine has yet to be tested?

I did read that the engine develops its 305HP at 6500 rpm, my question was does it develop that power when the ECU follows the mapping that allows the engine to rev to 7200 rpm or 6800 rpm.

As for being a weak response, yes, in technology terms it is weak - an NA engine that hardly revs to 7000 rpm and doesn't make even 100 HP/liter is weak in my book.